REGULAR MEETING OF THE ASIAN AMERICAN QUALITY OF LIFE ADVISORY COMMISSION TUESDAY, APRIL 21, 6:00 PM PERMITTING AND DEVELOPMENT CENTER, ROOM 1406, 6310 WILHELMINA DELCO DR., AUSTIN, TEXAS Some members of the Asian American Quality of Life Commission may be participating by videoconference. The meeting may be viewed online at: http://www.austintexas.gov/page/watch- atxn-live Public comment will be allowed in-person or remotely via telephone. Speakers may only register to speak on an item once either in-person or remotely and will be allowed up to three minutes to provide their comments. Registration no later than noon the day before the meeting is required for remote participation by telephone. To register to speak remotely, contact Chelsea Pfeifer at chelsea.pfeifer@austintexas.gov or 512-974-2498. CURRENT COMMISSIONERS: Seonhye “Sonny” Sin, Chair Aasiyah Baig Sarah Xiyi Chen Hanna Huang Ahmed Moledina Nayer Sikder Kuo Yang CALL TO ORDER Padmini Jambulapati, Vice-Chair Sarah Chen Zachary Dolling Hugh Li Alpha Shrestha Nirali Thakkar PUBLIC COMMUNICATION: GENERAL The first ten speakers signed up prior to the meeting being called to order will each be allowed a three-minute allotment to address their concerns regarding items not posted on the agenda. APPROVAL OF MINUTES 1. Approve the minutes of the Asian American Quality of Life Advisory Commission special called meeting on March 26, 2026. DISCUSSION ITEMS 2. Presentation by Communities in Schools of Central Texas regarding the results of the economic mobility study and Communities in Schools of Central Texas programs. Presentation by Sharon Vigil, Chief Executive Officer, Communities in Schools of Central Texas. 3. 4. 5. 6. 7. 8. Presentation by Asian Family Support Services of Austin (AFSSA) regarding upcoming work during Sexual Assault Awareness Month and PARTners in Progress. Presentation by Bhumika Purohit, Systems Advocacy and Training Manager, AFSSA. Discussion on Austin Arts, Culture, Music, and Entertainment (AACME) recommendation for a Market Review of Job Titles Discussion of Budget Recommendation Advocacy led by the Budget working group. Discussion on current workgroups, members, and progress status. Discussion of new stakeholder positions. Discussion on the priorities for the commission in the upcoming year. DISCUSSION AND ACTION ITEMS 9. 10. Conduct officer elections for Chair. Conduct officer elections for Vice Chair. FUTURE AGENDA ITEMS ADJOURNMENT The City of Austin is committed to compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act. Reasonable modifications and equal access to communications will be provided upon request. For assistance, please contact the Liaison or TTY users’ route through 711. A person …
Draft Meeting Minutes March 26, 2026 Asian American Quality of Life Advisory Commission Special Called Meeting Minutes Thursday, March 26, 2026 The Asian American Quality of Life Advisory Commission convened in a Special Called meeting on Thursday, March 26, at the Permitting and Development Center, Room #1406, Wilhelmina Drive in Austin, Texas. Chair Sin called the Special Called Asian American Quality of Life Advisory Commission Meeting to order at 6:06 p.m. COMMISSIONERS IN ATTENDANCE: Seonhye “Sonny” Sin, Chair Padmini Jambulapati, Vice Chair Sarah Xiyi Chen Hanna Huang COMMISSIONERS IN ATTENDANCE REMOTELY: Aasiyah Baig Sarah Chen Hugh Li Ahmed Moledina Alpha Shrestha Nayer Sikder Nirali Thakkar Kuo Yang PUBLIC COMMUNICATION: GENERAL None present. APPROVAL OF MINUTES 1. Approve the minutes of the Asian American Quality of Life Advisory Commission regular meeting on February 17, 2026. The minutes from the Asian American Quality of Life Advisory Commission regular meeting on February 17, 2026 were approved on Commissioner Huang’s motion, Commissioner 1 Draft Meeting Minutes March 26, 2026 Chen’s second on an 11-0 vote. Commissioner Yang was off the dais. Commissioner Dolling was absent. STAFF BRIEFINGS 2. Staff Briefing regarding the Levers of Economic Mobility Index. Presentation by Gary Aaron, Business Process Consultant Sr., Austin Equity and Inclusion and Shivani Datar, Business Process Specialist, Austin Equity and Inclusion. The presentation was made by Gary Aaron, Business Process Consultant Sr., Austin Equity and Inclusion and Shivani Datar, Business Process Specialist, Austin Equity and Inclusion. WORKING GROUP UPDATE 3. Update from Asian American Quality of Life Advisory Commission Commissioner Search Working Group Update was given by Commissioner Huang. Stakeholder candidates were discussed. DISCUSSION AND ACTION ITEMS 4. Approve two stakeholder seats to the Asian American Quality of Life Advisory Commission. The motion to approve a stakeholder seat to Alka Bhanot was approved on Commissioner Huang’s motion, Commissioner Thakkar’s second on a 12-0 vote. Commissioner Dolling was absent. The motion to approve a stakeholder seat to Bhumika Purohit was approved on Commissioner Shrestha’s motion, Commissioner Huang’s second on a 12-0 vote. Commissioner Dolling was absent. 5. Approve a Budget Recommendation to Council regarding the Quality-of-Life study. The following amendment was made by Commissioner Huang and seconded by Commissioner Xiyi Chen. The amendment was to insert the following: “Without updated, disaggregated data, Asian American communities remain underrepresented in City decision-making and program design. The UT Austin School of Social Work is currently working on an updated pilot …
EST. 1992 ASIAN FAMILY SUPPORT SERVICES OF AUSTIN EVERY AFSSA CLIENT IS A CLIENT FOR LIFE We support survivors of domestic violence, sexual assault & trafficking throughout Central Texas with free, confidential services 877-281-837124/7 HOTLINE AVAILABLE IN ANY LANGUAGE OUR MISSION Promote abuse-free Asian and immigrant communities through advocacy, support, awareness, and access to social services OUR HISTORY 1992 Founded as Saheli by community members 2004 2019 Saheli was an all-volunteer organization until 2004, when it received funding for two paid staff members Meeting and Collaborating with other Domestic Violence and Sexual Assault Agencies to talk about regional and statewide issues 2025 Celebrated our 33th Anniversary DEMOGRAPHICS 692 In 2025, we used 28 languages for service delivery, and 25%of our services were delivered in a non-English language.Here are the langauges we used for service delivery in 2025,and the ones in bold are langauges our staff speakAmharicArabicBurmeseCantoneseDariEnglishFarsiFrenchFrench CanadianFrench CreoleHindiJapaneseKoreanMandarinNepaliPashtoPersianPortegueseSpanishTagalogTamilThaiTigrinyaTurkishRussianUrduVietnamese OUR IMPACT COMMUNITY EDUCATION 323 Events attended or produced in 2025 OUR SERVICES Help finding medical care, legal representation & immigration help Help finding emergency shelter & long term housing Crisis intervention & safety planning Basic needs like groceries, diapers & formula Group & individual counseling, peer support programs English classes, job search help & education opportunities 8 7 7 - 2 8 1 - 8 3 7 1 24-HOUR HOTLINE AVAILABLE IN ANY LANGUAGE OUR IMPACT COMMUNITY TRAINING AFSSA also provides community outreach & training to workplaces, law enforcement, faith groups, youth programs, and more! STALKING AWARENESS AND INTERVENTION ONLINE SAFETY HEALTHY RELATIONSHIPS WORKING WITH INTERPRETERS MARGINS TO CENTER BARRIERS FOR ASIAN AND IMMIGRANT SURVIVORS OF VIOLENCE One-day gathering dedicated to healing, community connection, and collective action. Rooted in ancestral wisdom and community care, the summit invites participants to explore pathways toward self-determination and healthier relationships. SATURDAY, APRIL 25TH, 2026 FROM 9AM - 4PM PERMITTING + DEVELOPMENT CENTER Here’s a sneak peak...Here’s a sneak peak...Here’s a sneak peak...The Interplay Between SubstanceUse And Interpersonal Violence Mutual Aid as a ProtectiveFactor Against ViolenceBuilding our capacity for resistance:Why the work for liberation beginswith tending to our rootsYou Are Your Own Magic:Tarot for Self EmpowermentPARTners inProgressRegister here: Please fill out this evaluation form! 24/7 Hotline 877-281-8371 AFSSAustin.org @AFSSAustin Bhumika Purohit Manager of Systems Advocacy & Training POINTS OF CONTACTBPUROHIT@AFSSAUSTIN.ORG
